EAST LANSING — Former Michigan State middle linebacker T.J. Turner died on Monday at the age of 35 after battling cancer, according to Turner's hometown paper, the Highland County Press.

Turner, from Hillsboro, Ohio, played at Michigan State from 1997-2000 and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick in 1999 and was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL draft, playing in two games.

Turner is remembered for a fourth-down stop in the Spartans' victory over then-No. 1 Ohio State in 1998, and for a two-interception game against Purdue that same season, as he ran back one of Drew Brees' picks 88 yards for a touchdown.